Blackburn Challenge Boat Classifications

Rowed Boats

  • Fixed Seat: Oar-on-gunwale boats only.  Fixed seat boats with outriggers are in the Open division.

  • Sliding Seat Touring: Singles and multis with overall length to overall beam ratio less than or equal to 9:1 or overall length less than or equal to 19' (singles) or 23' (doubles).

  • Sliding Seat Racing: Singles and multis with overall length to overall beam ratio greater than 9:1, and generally longer and narrower than Sliding Seat Touring boats.

  • Workboat: Traditional displacement (load-bearing) rowing craft, peapods and dories that are propelled with two oars per rower. Traditional Banks Dories are workboats but have their own classification.

  • World Rowing Coastals: The Cape Ann Rowing Club is pleased to include the "World Rowing Coastal" Sliding Seat Class to the Blackburn Challenge. Please note, the Blackburn Challenge is not currently an official Coastal race — help us get there!

 

Paddled Boats

Starting in 2008, Blackburn kayak classification adopted Washington’s Sound Rowers kayak classification system. In this system, kayaks are classified into categories based on waterline length-to-width ratios.

You will be placed in an appropriate category by the race committee based on the information you provide about your boat during registration.  We ask that when you register, you provide exact information about the manufacturer and model of your boat, so that we can reference our copy of the Sound Rowers’ classification list for known boats.  (I.E.: please don’t enter an “Epic Kayak”, rather, enter “Epic 16X Sport”, or “Epic V10 Surf Ski”).

All paddled boats will be grouped into the following classes according to the length-to-width ratio of their manufacturer-specified dimensions:

  • The Sea Kayak (SK) class features seaworthy sit-in kayaks having a L:W ratio less than 9.25 and includes models such as Aquaterra’s Chinook, Chesapeake Light Craft’s Chesapeake 16 and Chesapeake 17, Current Designs’ Caribou,  Eddyline’s Falcon 16’, Necky’s Looksha IV, P&H’s Capella, and Wilderness System’s Tempest 165 Pro

  • The Fast Sea Kayak (FSK) class features seaworthy sit-in kayaks having a L:W ratio greater than 9.25 and includes models such as the Epic Endurance 18, Epic 18X, the Impex Force Category 4, the QFC 600x and 700x, and the Seda Glider and Impulse.

  • The Surfski 20 Plus (SS20+) class includes all sit-on surfskis having a L:W ratio of less than 11.25 and includes models such as the Epic V8, Stellar S18S, and Nelo 540.

  • The High Performance Kayak (HPK) class includes sit-on surfskis and seaworthy sit-in racing kayaks with a length-to-width ration of 11.25 or greater. This includes models such as Huki S1-R/S1-X, Epic V10/V12, Stellar SES/SE/SEL/Falcon/SEA, Fenn Swordfish/Elite/Mako 6, the Valley Rapier 20, the Van Dusen Mohican, and many of the Westside Boat models.

There are no kayak class distinctions based on paddle type.  All paddle types (wing or straight blade) of any material (composite or wood) are acceptable in all classes.  We encourage you to select all of your equipment (boat, paddle, pfd, etc.) based on your own skills and capabilities, and with your main consideration towards personal safety and comfort. 

Photo By David Jones